Maryland Judiciary issues warning about parking violation text scam directing recipients to Baltimore City District Court

State courts report surge of fraudulent texts claiming unpaid parking fines

The Maryland Judiciary issued a public warning about a fraudulent text-message campaign that falsely claims recipients have an unpaid parking ticket and must either pay immediately or appear in court in Baltimore. The messages are not issued by Maryland courts and are designed to pressure recipients into clicking a link or providing personal information.

The scam texts present themselves as an official notice tied to a vehicle and reference the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. The message format includes language such as “Notice of Default – Unpaid Parking Fine,” alleges the recipient has an “unresponded parking ticket,” and contains a web link that appears government-related but is not a legitimate state court address. The texts also list a specific in-person court appearance location: the District Court in Baltimore City at 1400 E. North Avenue, along with a scheduled time and date.

Threat-based tactics and a fictitious online link

The Judiciary said the messages rely on escalating threats to prompt immediate action, including claims of additional fines, driver’s license suspension, “court enforcement,” and harm to a recipient’s Social Security record. Court officials stated the texts are fabricated and warned the public not to click embedded links, submit payment, or share any identifying information in response.

Officials emphasized that Maryland courts do not use unsolicited text messages to request payments or to collect personal details. The warning applies to the specific message described and to variations circulating with similar wording, links, or threats.

What to do if you receive one of these messages

• Do not click the link or reply to the message.
• Do not provide payment details, Social Security numbers, or banking information.
• If you have a question about a real court matter, verify it by contacting the relevant local court directly using official court directory contact information.
• Report suspected consumer fraud to the Maryland Office of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division hotline at 410-528-8662 or 888-743-0023.

Part of a broader pattern of court-impersonation fraud

Maryland court officials have repeatedly warned in recent years that scammers impersonate courts or court staff through different channels—texts, emails, and phone calls—often using fear of legal consequences to extract money or personal data. The latest campaign mirrors these tactics by pairing a credible-sounding “notice” with a link and an urgent, punitive timeline.

Residents who are uncertain whether a court notice is legitimate are advised to independently verify any claim through official court contact channels, rather than using information provided in an unsolicited message.

The Judiciary’s alert singled out the Baltimore City District Court address included in the messages to underscore that the threatened court appearance is part of the deception, not a valid summons generated by the state court system.